Dangerous Secrets

After a busy week at school, teacher Shauna Trenton is looking forward to her days of rest. The fact that she has no one to share it with doesnt bother her in the leastafter all, she doesnt need to have her heart broken yet again. But her uneventful life is turned upside down when upon arriving home, shes held at knifepoint on her own front porch!

When he hears screams coming from his new neighbors home, Levi McLeary doesnt hesitate to investigate, managing to scare off the attacker in the process. Recently returned to Deer Park, Washington, the last person he expects to find living next door is Shauna, the girl he left behind. And when it appears that the attack was not simply a random mugging, Levi begins to wonder if God has brought him back to his hometown for a reason.

Chapter Twenty

Levi had never been good at waiting, and waiting for the doctor to finish examining Shauna was torture. He glanced at his watch, frowning. Shed been in triage for a little over an hour. What was taking so long?

"Levi?"

He turned, saw Shauna walking through the double wide doors that led from the treatment area. She was parchment pale, dark bruises on her neck standing out in stark contrast to her pallid skin.

"You should be in a wheelchair, Red." He crossed the room, pulled her into a gentle hug and was surprised when she burrowed close, resting her head on his chest.

"Thats what the nurse said, but I didnt want to wait around for her to bring one."

"Sit down. Ill get one."

"Dont. Its been a long night, and I just want to go home." Her voice was raspy and worn, and he didnt bother arguing. Just wrapped an arm around her waist and led her out to the parking lot.

He didnt release his hold as he unlocked the car door, didnt want to let her go. Didnt want to imagine what would have happened if he hadnt heard her scream.

Would he have walked outside in the morning and found her lying dead on the lawn?

His arm tightened around her waist, and she looked up into his face, pressed a palm to his cheek. "Dont look so grim, Levi. Im fine."

"If Lily Samuels had had her way, you wouldnt be." He helped her into the passenger seat of the car, brushing his knuckles down her cheek. Her skin was warm and silky, life pulsing through it, and he wasnt sure hed ever been more thankful for anything in his life.

"Richard came into triage while the doctor was waiting for x-ray results. He said the police have been looking for her all day."

"They knew she was after you?" If they had and had let the woman slip through their fingers

"No. She was wanted for something else. He couldnt tell me what, just that they have enough evidence to put her away for a long time."

"Is she talking?"

"All shes said is that I told her something during parent-teacher conferences that worried her. She wanted to make sure I didnt spread it around."

"So she thought shed terrorize and kill you?"

"Shes insisting she wasnt trying to kill me. She just wanted a drawing Nicolas made. I showed it to her during the conference, and she wanted to take it home. Since they were part of his class portfolio, I told her shed have to wait until the end of the year."

"What could a kid possibly draw that would make his mother stalk and attack another person?" It had to be something life alteringsomething that could have caused her serious trouble.

"Richard wouldnt say, but I think I know."

"Yeah?" He walked around the car and got into the drivers seat.

"The kids drew self portraits for an art project. They all wrote their names at the top. Nicolas didnt. He wrote Eli."

"Eli?"

"Yes. And he refused to change it. He kept saying it was his real name. The one his father gave him. I told his mother that at the conference, and she laughed, but now " Her voice trailed off, and she shrugged.

"You wonder if he was telling the truth."

"I dont wonder. I know."

"Did she kidnap him, then?"

"I asked Richard that, and he wouldnt comment."

"Eventually, hell have to." Levi pulled up in front of Shaunas house and turned to face her.

"Eventually. For now, Im just happy that Nicolas is in safe hands, and that Im alive. Thanks to you. This is the second time youve saved my life." She lifted his hand, pressed a kiss to his knuckles, the heat of her lips stealing his breath.

"Id do it a million more times if I had to. You know that, right?"

"Lets hope you dont have to." She opened the car door. "Id better get inside. Its late and both of us start our days early."

"Youre planning to work tomorrow?" he asked as he cupped her elbow and helped her up the porch stairs.

"A couple of bruises arent enough to keep me from my students."

"Why doesnt that surprise me?"

"Because you really do know me. Even after all these years." She smiled, and Levis heart leaped.

"Does that mean you might be willing to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

"It does."

"And the night after that?"

"Probably."

"Since youre feeling so generous, maybe I can convince you to have dinner with me every night for the next fifty years." He pressed a hand to her back, urging her close.

"You know, I dont think itll take all that much convincing. Ive been thinking that God had a reason for bringing us back together."

"Yeah? Whats that?"

"To show us both that it doesnt matter how big or small our dreams are as long as were dreaming them together," she responded, and then she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled his head down and offered a kiss that required absolutely no convincing at all.